South Korean minister quits

South Korea's new vice justice minister has resigned over an alleged sex-for-favours scandal just eight days after being appointed.

South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye addresses the nation at the presidential Blue House in SeoulPhoto: AFP/GETTY

By Julian Ryall in Tokyo

4:39AM GMT 22 Mar 2013

The resignation of Kim Hak-ui is a serious blow to the administration of Park Geun-hye, who was only sworn in as president in late February and has been embarrassed by a number of her nominations for key positions.

Hwang Chul-joo, the head of an engineering firm, accepted and then declined a position overseeing policies on small and medium-size companies due to questions about his personal assets, while Kim Yong-joon withdrew his nomination as prime minister after the media printed allegations surrounding the true scale of his wealth and his sons dodging the military draft.

The nominations of no fewer than five presidential secretaries have been withdrawn without explanation, the JoongAng Daily reported, while Kim Jeong-hun opted to decline the minister of science portfolio.

But it is the resignation of the deputy justice minister that is the most embarrassing to the administration, although Kim continues to protest his innocence.

Police have reportedly obtained statements from a woman hired by the owner of a construction firm to provide sexual services for Kim in 2009. In return, it is alleged, Kim used his influence to secure the builder a number of lucrative contracts.

Related Articles

"Though all these allegations are not true, I acutely feel that I could not carry out my crucial duties," Kim said in a brief statement released on Thursday.

"I am resigning in the hope that I will not be a burden to the government any more," he said, adding that the "groundless" rumours had seriously damaged his personal honour and his family situation.

Police are investigating a number of high-ranking members of South Korean society in connection with the growing scandal, which came to light when a woman filed a complaint against the owner of the construction firm for rape and extortion.

The president's unfortunate choices in advisers struck again on Friday when Kim Byung-kwan, nominated for the post of defence minister, offered to withdraw over a series of what local media termed "ethical lapses," including alleged links with an arms broker, real estate speculation and questions over the disclosure of his assets.